BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB
DOHA: About three million truck trips will be needed in two years during peak construction phase of Qatar Rail just to transport 17 million cubic metres of spoils generated from 70km of tunnels stretched across the country. But pipe conveyors, for the first time in Qatar, will be used to avoid traffic hindrance while transporting spoils, a senior official of Qatar Rail said recently.
“Providing logistic support in a timely manner, while keeping Doha moving, is one of the biggest challenges of Qatar Rail. On an average about 4,000 trucks will be needed every day to transport spoils generated from tunnels for two years,” Ahmed Nassar Al Kowsi, Logistics Director at Qatar Rail, said.
Over the next 10 years about 500 projects need to be accomplished as part of preparations for hosting 2022 FIFA World Cup which will require millions of tonnes of construction-related materials to be transported from one place to another posing tremendous pressure on traffic.
To ease traffic congestion, finding alternative modes of transport and carriage is one of the biggest challenges design and contracting companies are facing, as they are being told to use trucks as the last option to transport spoils and construction materials.
“I advise all contractors to look for their own logistic requirements and logistic providers. They need to look for alternative modes of transportation because there are certain hurdles that you have to cross. Anyone who is relying 100 percent on road transport have to be careful about truck bans and road closures,” he added.
Interacting with senior representatives of some contracting companies at the recently concluded ‘Qatar Project 2013’, Al Kowsi informed them about anticipated road closures and ban on trucks.
“The biggest window for operation will be from 10pm to 6am.
“And in addition to two truck bans from 6am to 9am and noon to 2.30pm, there is anohter ban from 5pm to 10pm,” he said.
“Most of the movement of trucks carrying cement, steel and other construction materials will take place at night.”
Al Kowsi urged the contracting companies to be prepared and take these constraints in consideration whether they are moving containers from ports or carrying excavation materials from and to construction sites.
He revealed that for the first time a conveyor system will be used in the heart of Doha, primarily for the removal of spoils from the construction places to ease traffic.
“Four major conveyors, each with a length of up to 5km will be put in place to avoid hindrance to smooth traffic.
“Keeping in view environmental concerns, these would be steel-pipe conveyors with a 50cm diameter equipped with sophisticated technology which will run underground as well as aboveground,” he said.
Generally conveyors are used for quick and efficient transport of heavy or bulky materials.
Experts suggest that coordination and cooperation among top government agencies and stakeholders responsible for implementing mega projects would be crucial to manage such an incredible amount of waste to be generated over the next 10 years.
Asked about the level of coordination, he said: “Qatar Rail, Ashghal and Qatar 2022 FIFA Committee, who will be handling majority of the projects, are holding meetings of Logistics Working Group on a regular basis to discuss supplies of raw materials, including cement, steel, water and labour transport.
“All these issues are discussed on a daily basis.
“And these meetings are coordinated by the Central Planning Office working under the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning,” Al Kowsi added.
The Peninsula
